I recently visited Malaga, a city on the south coast of Spain, part of the Costa-del-Sol region. It’s a great place to visit for a long weekend, apart from the sunny climate and close vicinity to many fantastic beaches it also has a rich history and being a port city, fish and seafood dominates much of it’s food culture.
Breakfast was easy to find as like many other European cities, fantastic bakeries are dotted all over, filled croissants were a favourite, filled with sweet (jam or Nutella) or savoury (smoked salmon, spinach and cream cheese) options, when you’re on the go these are a cheap, quick and delicious choice. I also visited an interesting concept café which specialised in national and international breakfast cereals. The walls are decorated with the front of hundreds of cereal packs which created a Warhol-esque environment that I really liked. I’m not sure as a nutritionist I can recommend a café that serves predominantly high sugar, low nutrient dishes, but it’s a fun place to visit as a one off and very popular with kids as you’d expect – The Cereal Boom Coffee.
Tapas feature strongly on most menus and were of high quality, croquettes were common with many different options, from traditional cheese and jamon to wild mushroom and a regional speciality called ‘salchichon malagueno’ which is made with a regional cured sausage, delicious. Other standout options included stuffed peppers, duck breast with rich berry sauce and my personal favourite an Asian influenced tuna tataki dish served at a fantastic restaurant with great atmosphere frequented by locals (always a good sign)- El Tapeo de Cervantes.
One of the culinary highlights of Malaga are the many beach-based BBQ/grilling restaurants lining Pedregalejo Beach, this is a historic fishing area that allows you to watch extensive fish and seafood options being cooked over coals right on the sand. The most popular dish is the ‘espetos’ which are grilled sardine skewers, served simply with a large chunk of lemon and a sprinkle of salt, be warned, although these are small fish they are incredibly filling especially as a typical side salad is a meal in itself!
Last culinary recommendation is a visit to the central fish market, ‘Atarazanas Food Market’ which is located in the heart of the city. The market is housed in a beautiful, historic building which gives a fantastic backdrop while you wander an abundance of stalls. As well as fish there are lots of other local produce on sale including meat, cheeses and more, I was particularly impressed with the range and quality of fresh nuts and dried fruit. The fish and seafood were incredible, fresh and varieties you will have probably never come across, prices very reasonable and if you arrive around midday many vendors will start cooking up their produce on the spot, fresh and fast. There are also sushi bars serving the most amazing quality I’ve ever tasted outside of Japan. Worth a visit even if you don’t partake in any of the produce as it’s a great atmosphere and fantastic surroundings, I love the way markets give you a little insight into the lives of locals, food always brings people together.
MLT Nutrition 